The 19th edition of the 'Field Archaeology' course at the Pablo de Olavide University in Carmona allows students to excavate in Julián Besteiro square, where baths from Emperor Augustus, Islamic silos, and a Roman water mine have been discovered.
A group of archaeology students is currently working in the heart of Carmona, in Julián Besteiro square, where a Roman thermal complex built under the reign of Emperor Augustus is being uncovered. The discovery is part of the excavation campaign preceding the urban redevelopment of the area, promoted by the Carmona City Council.
The course, which runs from July 13 to 24, is directed by municipal archaeologist Juan Manuel Román. Participants not only learn excavation techniques but also engage directly in scientific work that documents a historical sequence spanning from Prehistory to contemporary times.
Baths of Augustus and Islamic silos: a site that continues to surprise
The public Roman baths, originally built under Augustus, are now in their final phase of excavation. The municipal project aims to integrate the remains into the redevelopment of the square, enhancing them for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. Far from hiding them, the council wants to incorporate them into the city's heritage circuit.
However, the site is not limited to the Roman period. Archaeologists have also documented four large silos for storing grain: three of them are from the medieval Islamic period and one is older, from the Copper Age. Additionally, part of the baths was reused during the Almohad period, showing how the same space transforms over the centuries.
A Roman water mine in use until the 17th century
One of the most spectacular finds has been the location of a subterranean water mine of Roman origin, linked to the supply of the thermal complex. Its state of preservation is exceptional, and researchers have found that it continued to be used for centuries, being repurposed in the 17th century when the now-demolished convent of San José was built over the site.
Currently, the excavation focuses on the areas where the future retaining walls of the square will be located. “We want to ensure that no last-minute surprises arise that would require modifications to the ongoing civil works,” explains Román, who advocates for the compatibility between heritage protection and urban progress.
Carmona, an urban site with only 1% excavated
The municipal archaeologist reminds us that, after four decades of research, only one percent of the historic centre's surface has been excavated. This underlying wealth continues to yield surprises: in a previous campaign linked to the UPO summer courses, an intact Roman mausoleum was discovered with the urn containing the world's oldest liquid wine.
For the residents of Carmona, these findings represent a cultural and tourist attraction that reinforces the city's identity. Once remodelled, Julián Besteiro square will become a new outdoor museum space, where the baths and silos will be integrated into the urban landscape.
In addition to the findings, the course has an educational purpose: students learn techniques in stratigraphic excavation, recording, graphic documentation, and material inventory, working with the same methodology as professional teams. All recovered materials will be transferred to the laboratories of the City Museum.
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